Plug assembly



Feb. 23, 1965 a. J. JoHANsoN Erm. :170,749

Pwr: ssamm Filed June 2l, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 34 Y* sz i um:

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PLUG ASSEMBLY Filed June 21, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Invento rs Beni't J. Johanson Robert F. Schlacks United States Patent Olce 3,170,749 Patented Feb. 23, 1965 3,170,749 PLUG ASSEMBLY Bengt J. Johanson, 1634 Spnlce St., Des Plaines, Ill., and Robert F. Schlacks, 2435 Burling St., Chicago, lll. Filed lune 21, 1962, Ser. No. 204,189 2 Claims. (Cl. 339-107) The present invention relates to an electrical connecting device and more particularly it relates to an improved plug assembly.

In the electronic components manufacturedv today it can readily be appreciated that many sub-assemblies are combined into one complex to define a functional unit. Such units ordinarily do not function of themselves but are interrelated with other auxiliary equipment to further deline an operational unit. Each of the sub-assemblies or components, comprised of many parts themselves, must be electrically interconnected to the other components of the assembly of the operational unit to define the composite electrical structure. In order to provide for convenience in assembly of the sub-units the individual electrical leads are led to a common plug unit and electrically connected to the contact elements provided therein. The sub-unit then may be electrically interconnected with any other unit by means of a suitable electrical plug connector of 'predetermined specifications.

Many of the plug assemblies in current use employ metallic housing in order to provide a connector that. is suitable for rough usage. Such connectors must, of course, be provided with a separate insulating housing on the inner face thereof in order to shield the metal housing from the electrical contact elements and electrical leads contained therein. Further, the electrical leads emanating from the plug housing must be brought together by a clamping assembly in order to group the leads in a convenient manner for handling. It can readily be seen that if the leads were not grouped into a compact bundle they would be subject to greater damage through tangling and the like, they would occupy considerablymore space and thereby reduce the assembling eciency of the unit, and they would lead to confusion if many such units were assembled in close relation. Clamps associated with the present plug assemblies are provided externally of the plug housing and conventionally are Cr-clamps, U-clamps, hose clamps or the like. This type of clamp is rather bulky and requires that the installer screw the separated end sections of theclamp together in order to bring the clamp and thereby the electrical leads confined therein into closed relation whereby the leads will be compactly grouped.`

In accordance with the present invention an improved plug connector is provided wherein the plug housing is of a rigid dielectric materialv to thereby obviate the need for an additional insulating housing and whereby the plug assembly is provided with internal contact elementvv receiving and positioning means and internal clamp means for the plurality of electrical leads emanating therefrom.-

It, accordingly, is a general object ofthe present invention to provide an improved plug assembly having a molded electrical lead receiving opening `and an internal electrical lead clamp member.

A further object of the present invention resides in the provision of an improved plug assembly havingv an insulating housing and means integrally associated there# withrto receive and position the contact element carryingY insulating body.

An additional object of the present invention resides in the provision of an improved resiliently deectable internal lead clamp.

The novel features which we believe to be characteristic plug assembly having al of our invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. Our invention itself, however, together with further objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following descriptions taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of the assembled plug assembly of the present invention;

FIGURE 21's an end view of the plug assembly viewed from the electrical lead opening of the assembly;

FIGURE 3 is aplan view of one of the bodies of the housing showing the inner detail;

FIGURE 3A is an enlarged fragmentary view 0f the electrical lead receiving recess and clamp member portion of one of the housing bodies;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the mating body to that illustrated in FIGURE 3 illustrating the inner details of the housing body construction;

FIGURE 5 is a sideelevation ofthe clamp member of the present invention; and Y FIGURE 6 is .an ,end view of the clamp member of FIGURE 5 viewed from the bifurcated prongend thereof.

Referring more particularly now to FIGURE l, there is shown the plug assembly, indicated generally at 10. The housing of the plug assembly 10 is defined by body portions 12 and 14, as indicated in FIGURE 2. Each of the body portions l2 and 14 are provided with transverse ribs 16 thereon. surfaces to facilitate withdrawal of the plug assembly fromV asocke't. The raised rib surfaces provide a corrugated area that is readilygrasped firmly by the fingers in insertion and withdrawal of the plug assembly 10 from a mating socket. i

The body portions 12 and 14, in assembled relation,

other end thereof. The insulating body, schematically represented fragmentarily in FIGURE 3 at 18, receives j a plurality of contact elements 20 therein. An electrical lead 22 extends from each of the contact elements 20.

As indicated in FIGURE l, the contact elements 20 extend outwardly from the A,face 24 of the housing of the plug assembly'lo when in assembled relation. Said contact elements 20 are adapted to be received lin a mating female-type socket member to define an electrical interconnection therebetween vand between the unit interconnected with said members. vA polarizing stud 26 projects outwardly from the face 24k of the housing of the plug assembly 10 and defines a means for locating the plug assembly with respect to the socket within which it will be inserted.

The electrical lead receiving opening 28 as illustrated in FIGURE 2 and, as shown, is defined at one end of the plug assembly.

The body portion 14, FIGURES 2 and 3, includes a base portion 30. Upstanding wall portions 32 and 34 are integrally joined to the base portion 30 and extend along opposite sides thereof to enclose said base portion along said sides. The wall portions 32 and 34 extend outwardlyv from said base and terminate in relatively thinner wall sections 33 and 35, respectively, integral with'the outer face of said wall sections. A boss, indicated generally recesses 28b and 28C is interposed between said latte arcuate portions.

The ribs 16 provide gripping y A pair of projections 3S and 40 are provided on the boss 36 adjacent the recess 28a, said projections extending upwardly from the top face of the boss 3e. A pair of openings 42 and44 extend completely through the boss 36 and are adapted to receive'the threaded bolts 46 and 4S which holdthe body-portions 12` and-14 in assembled relation. Arcuate projections 50 and 52 .flare evenly from the main operi body portion of the body 14 into the recess 23a to define guide means to facilitate insertionkof the electrical leads into the recess 28a and the electricalvlead openings 28 defined by the mating body portions when in assembled relation. VA pair of recesses S4'and 56 extend from the upper face of the boss 36 to the floor of the base portion 30 of the body 14; A shallow groove Sdcxtends from each of the recesses and opens into 'the upper portions of the recess 28a of the boss 36.

An upstanding wall portion 60 is defined along the outer periphery of the boss 36, said wall having an interrupted portion in mating relation with the recess 2821 of the boss portion to define a continuation of said recess. The wall et) presents a continuous wall portion in combination with the wall members 32 and 34 along thev sides of the base 30. v

The mating body portion 12 of the housing of the plug `member 10 is adapted to be received in inter-engaging relation with the body portion 14. The body portion i2 is much the same as that described hereinabove for the body portion 14. The chief differences reside in the construction of the boss, indicated generally at 52, of the body 12. The boss 62denes a recess, indicated generally at sion than either of the arcuate portions 281 or 2tlg. f

Recesses 64 and 66 extend into the boss 62 from the upper face thereof-and are adapted to receive the resilient clamp member as described in detail hereinbelow. The inboard portion of each of the recesses 64 and 66 is `connected to the recess 28e by a shallow channel 68. Depressions 70 s and 72 are dened in the inner `wall of theV recess 28ev at the area where said recess opens into the'inner chamber of thebody 12, said depressions adapted to receive the arcuate projections 5@ and 52 of the body-e portion 14 when in assembled relation therewith. Openings` 74 and '76 extend through thel boss 62 and the base ot 'the body portion 12. Said openings 74 and 75, are adapted to be in coaxial relation with the openings 42 andy 44 of the body portion 14 when iny assembled relation therewith andare further adapted to receive bolts. 46 and 43 to hold the mating body portions in assembled relation. The

boss 62 has openings '74a and 76a disposedlaterally of the arcuate portion 28j for reception of the projections 38 and 4t? of the boss 36 when the body portionslare in assembly. When the body portions 12 and 14 are in assembled relation, the wall sections 33. and 3,5 ,of the wall portions 32 and 34, respectively, .are adapted to be received in 'telescoped relation over the outer tace` of ythe wall sections 78. and Sli of the body 12to overlap the The outer or open terminalsof the body portionsllf Land 14 are each provided with aivertically extending a short distance, the 'total lateral dimension` defined by A the recesses 82 and 86 andthe ridge S4 beingzsubstantially equal to thelateral dimension of'the contact element bearing insulating Ybody 18 to be. received therein.

A resilient clamp` member $5` is adapted to be'received` by each of the bosses 36 and 62 of `the body portions and 12, respectively. As indicated more clearly in FIG- URE`4, the top face of the clamp member is adapted to be substantially fiush with the top face of the boss portion 36 in view of the fact that said clamp is received within the recesses 53 of the boss 36.

The construction of thev clamp 85 is shown in FG- URES 5 and'6. As indicated, the clamp SS'is defined by a flat terminal portion 86and 88 interconnected by an arcuate section 9th Aportion of the terminal 88 is bent downwardly to form the leg 'portion 9201. the clamp 85. The leg portion 92 defines` a pair ofV projections 94 and 96( in relative spaced relation, said projections in relaxed position, extending to a total lateral dimension at the base of the projectionsy that is slightly greater thanthe lateral dimension of the 'terminal portions 86 and S8 and that is slightly greater than the lateral dimension of the recesses 54 and 56 of the body portion 14.

The clamp is `held in the body portion 14 by insertion ofthe leg 92 into one of the recesses 54 or 56. Upon T he larger recess portion 28d of the recess 23a is adapted` to receive the arcuate portion 9% of the 'clamp member r3S in snugrrelation therein when a large number of electrical leads is present in the recess. It can readily beseen that upon boiting the two body sections together the resilient clamp member will be urged outwardly until itreaches its .maximum outward travel detined by contact with thebase of the recess portion 28d. Thus,`the assembled plug member may be adapted to receivek a very few` leads within the arcuate portions 9d of the assembled plug or a large numberof electrical leads, the maximumnum ber being defined by the maximum opening provided between the base portions of the` smaller recesses 281)' and c and ZS and g.

It is readily seen that the plug assembly of the present invention can be adapted to receive any number ofleads without modification and without the provision of a different clamp member for the varying number of electrical leads to be recieved therein. The clamp member 85 ycan beA provided such that it extends in a flat resilient member across the entire recess wherein one lead could be: restrained therein in confinedrelation or any number of leads up to the maximum defined by the maximum re-` cess opening. The resilient internal clamp member will deflect to receive any number of leads within the limits defined. An additional componentis not. requiredto facilitate clampingfof the leads into convenient grouping. The only assembly requiredis Athat in fastening the separate body sectionstogether. Thisassembly is required in the present plug assemblies and thus the plug of the present invention results in an assembly that is convenient, inexpensive, time saving, and that results in a saving of components and extra operations in installation.

While we have shown and described a specific embodiment ot the present invention it will, of course, be yunderstood that other modifications and alternative constructions may beused without departingfrorn the true spirit and scope of the invention.` We therefore intend by the appended claims to cover all such modifications and alternative constructions as fall. Within their true` spirit and scope.

AWhat we .claim as new and desire to'secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is;

1. kAconnector assembly including a connector insui latingibody having a plurality of electrical Contact elements therein, and a plurality of electrical-leads extendn f 3,170,749 6 ing from said contact elements, said connector assemreceiving opening at the other end thereof, said first bly comprising: v second insulating bodies of said housing each hav- First and second insulating bodies positioned in intering a base portion which hasupstanding walls inteengaging mating relation and defining a housing,

said housing having said connector insulating bodyy assembled at one end thereof'and an electrical lead 5 walls of each of said first and second insulating receiving opening at the other end thereof, said first bodies having means in engagement with said conand second insulating bodies of said housing each nector insulating body for holding said connector inhaving a base portion which has upstanding walls insulating body in assembly with said housing, one tegrally affixed thereto kand extending along oppoy end of the base portion of each of said first and secsite sides of said base portion, said opposed upstandond said bodies having an upstanding boss integrally ing walls of each of said first and second insulating attached thereto, each of said bosses having an arcubodies having means in engagement with said conate recess therein defining said electrical lead renector insulating body for holding said connector ceiving opening of said housing when said first and insulating body in assembly with said housing, one second bodies are in inter-engaging mating relation, end of the base portion of each of Said first and each of said bosses having a fastener-receiving opensecond said bodies having an upstanding boss inteing disposed laterally of said arcuate recess, and a grally attached thereto, each of said bosses having resilient clamp member in fastened engagement withV an arcuate recess therein defining said electrical lead each of said bosses, each of said clamp members havreceiving opening of said housingwhen said first and ing resilient Vattaching projections in fastener engagesecond bodies are in inter-engaging mating relation, ment with the walls of said fastener-receiving openand a resilient clamp member in direct fastened en- Y ing and each of said clamp members extending gagement with each of said bosses and extending V `across said arcuate recess of said respective boss, across said respective arcuate recess thereof, said said clamp members cooperating to embrace said clamp members cooperating to embrace said electrielectrical leads, and means to hold said yfirstand cal leads, and meansto hold said first and second insulating bodies in inter-engaged mating relation.

grally aixed thereto and extending along opposite sides of said base portion, said opposed upstanding second insulating bodies in inter-engaged mating rrelation.

` 2.A connector assemblyincluding a connector insulating body having a plurality of electrical contact elements therein, and a plurality of electrical leads extending from said contact elements, said connector assembly comprising:

First and second insulating bodies positioned in interengaging mating relation and defining a housing, said housing having said connector insulating body assembled'at one end thereof and an electrical lead References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 4/ 5 1 Hoard. 9/ 56 Healy.

JOSEPH D. SEERS, Primary Examiner. 

1. A CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY INCLUDING A CONNECTOR INSULATING BODY HAVING A PLURALITY OF ELECTRICAL CONTACT ELEMENTS THEREIN, AND A PLURALITY OF ELECTRICAL LEADS EXTENDING FROM SAID CONTACT ELEMENTS, SAID CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY COMPRISING: FIRST AND SECOND INSULATING BODIES POSITIONED IN INTERENGAGING MATING RELATION AND DEFINING A HOUSING, SAID HOUSING HAVING SAID CONNECTOR INSULATING BODY ASSEMBLED AT ONE END THEREOF AND AN ELECTRICAL LEAD RECEIVING OPENING AT THE OTHER END THEREOF, SAID FIRST AND SECOND INSULATING BODIES OF SAID HOUSING EACH HAVING A BASE PORTION WHICH HAS UPSTANDING WALLS INTEGRALLY AFFIXED THERETO AND EXTENDING ALONG OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID BASE PORTION, SAID OPPOSED UPSTANDING WALLS OF EACH OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND INSULATING BODIES HAVING MEANS IN ENGAGMENT WITH SAID CONNECTOR INSULATING BODY FOR HOLDING SAID CONNECTOR INSULATING BODY IN ASSEMBLY WITH SAID HOUSING, ONE END OF THE BASE PORTION OF EACH OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND SAID BODIES HAVING AN UPSTANDING BOSS INTEGRALLY ATTACHED THERETO, EACH OF SAID BOSSES HAVING AN ARCUATE RECESS THEREIN DEFINING SAID ELECTRICAL LEAD RECEIVING OPENING OF SAID HOUSING WHEN SAID FIRST AND SECOND BODIES ARE IN INTER-ENGAGING MATING RELATION, AND A RESILIENT CLAMP MEMBER IN DIRECT FASTENED ENGAGEMENT WITH EACH OF SAID BOSSES AND EXTENDING ACROSS SAID RESPECTIVE ARCUATE RECESS THEREOF, SAID CLAMP MEMBERS COOPERATING TO EMBRACE SAID ELECTRICAL LEADS, AND MEANS TO HOLD SAID FIRST AND SECOND INSULATING BODIES IN INTER-ENGAGED MATING RELATION. 